Varicose veins and pregnancy

During pregnancy, your blood volume increases and your circulation slows, which can lead to swelling.

The job of the veins in your legs is to carry blood back to your heart. Because the veins need to contend with gravity they have to prevent the blood from flowing back on itself. The veins do this with the help of small valves.

Physiological changes that take place in pregnancy mean that sometimes these valves don’t work as efficiently as they should and the result is that blood can pool in your leg veins. This causes the purple or blue-ish veins to swell and protrude prominently. They may itch or hurt and you may notice them all over your legs or even on your genital area. Often they disappear again after your pregnancy, but in the meantime can cause discomfort.

There are ways of preventing or minimizing varicose veins. One of the best ways is by wearing special supportive stockings. Drinking more fluids will help your circulation, and resting with your feet higher than your head will prevent blood from pooling. You could also try massaging your legs to aid circulation, but make sure you rub your legs upwards and away from your feet.

If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy niggles.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 06/07/2007

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